Lexicon Reveals “INTO THE DARK” Awareness Campaign About Vulnerable and Dangerous Period of Time Faced by Heart Failure Patients Following Hospitalization

Emphasizes challenges faced by patients and clinicians within the first 30 days after discharge from a heart failure hospitalization

Reinforces impact of rehospitalizations for heart failure patients and healthcare system

Campaign launches at American College of Cardiology’s 72nd Annual Scientific Session Together with World Congress of Cardiology

THE WOODLANDS, Texas, March 04, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: LXRX), today announced the launch of a new disease awareness campaign focused on the cyclical nature of rehospitalizations for heart failure (HF) patients. The “INTO THE DARK” campaign focuses on the first 30 days following a heart failure patient’s hospitalization, which is the “danger zone” where the likelihood of poor outcomes, including rehospitalization, is highest. During this period, the journey faced by patients with HF is particularly fraught with risks and dangerous uncertainty, as characterized by high mortality and rehospitalization rates.

“We are hopeful that the bold and thought-provoking nature of our ‘INTO THE DARK’ campaign helps to elevate awareness of the devastating outcomes commonly seen in heart failure patients within the first 30 days after they leave the hospital,” said Jeffrey L. Wade, Lexicon’s president and chief financial officer. “Patients and those who care for them are faced with uncertainty during this critical time and often find themselves back in the hospital. We are strongly motivated to raise awareness and help the heart failure community break this vicious cycle.”

The impact and costs to patients and the healthcare system as a result of HF rehospitalizations are staggering. Patients with HF are often caught in a cyclical pattern of rehospitalizations, with nearly 25% readmitted within only 30 days of dischargeⁱ, and face high mortality rates, with 7% dying within 30 days post-discharge.^ii,iii,iv On top of the burden for patients, each time a patient with HF is re-hospitalized, it costs the healthcare system an estimated $15,000-26,000.^v

The campaign aims to raise awareness for healthcare professionals to navigate the “danger zone,” providing much needed education on this important topic.

“INTO THE DARK” will be featured on the exhibit floor in Lexicon’s Booth #1313 at the American College of Cardiology’s 72nd Annual Scientific Session Together with World Heart Federation’s World Congress of Cardiology in New Orleans, Louisiana and can be found at www.intothedarkHF.com.

About Lexicon Pharmaceuticals

Lexicon is a biopharmaceutical company with a mission of pioneering medicines that transform patients’ lives. Through its Genome5000™ program, Lexicon scientists studied the role and function of nearly 5,000 genes and identified more than 100 protein targets with significant therapeutic potential in a range of diseases. Through the precise targeting of these proteins, Lexicon is pioneering the discovery and development of innovative medicines to safely and effectively treat disease. Lexicon advanced one of these medicines to market and has a pipeline of promising drug candidates in discovery and clinical and preclinical development in heart failure, neuropathic pain, diabetes and metabolism and other indications. For additional information, please visit www.lexpharma.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains “forward-looking statements,” including statements relating to the research and clinical development of, regulatory filings for, and potential therapeutic and commercial potential of its therapeutic products. In addition, this press release also contains forward looking statements relating to Lexicon’s financial position and long-term outlook on its business, growth and future operating results, discovery and development of products, strategic alliances and intellectual property, as well as other matters that are not historical facts or information. All forward-looking statements are based on management’s current assumptions and expectations and involve risks, uncertainties and other important factors, specifically including Lexicon’s ability to meet its capital requirements, successfully conduct preclinical and clinical development and obtain necessary regulatory approvals of sotagliflozin, LX9211 and its other potential drug candidates on its anticipated timelines, successfully commercialize any products for which it obtains regulatory approval, achieve its operational objectives, obtain patent protection for its discoveries and establish strategic alliances, as well as additional factors relating to manufacturing, intellectual property rights, and the therapeutic or commercial value of its drug candidates. Any of these risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause Lexicon’s actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Information identifying such important factors is contained under “Risk Factors” in Lexicon’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Lexicon undertakes no obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

For Investor Inquiries:

Carrie Siragusa
Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
csiragusa@lexpharma.com

For Media Inquiries:

Alina Kolomeyer
Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
akolomeyer@lexpharma.com

ⁱ Khan MS, Sreenivasan J, Lateef N, et al. Trends in 30- and 90-day readmission rates for heart failure. Circ Heart Fail. 2021;14(4):450-458. doi: 10.1161/CIRCHEARTFAILURE.121.008335
ⁱⁱ Lin AH, Chin JC, Sicignano NM, Evans AM. Repeat hospitalizations predict mortality in patients with heart failure. Mil Med. 2017;182(9):e1932-e1937. doi:10.7205/MILMED-D-17-00017
ⁱⁱⁱ Bhagat AA, Greene SJ, Vaduganathan M, Fonarow GC, Butler J. Initiation, continuation, switching, and withdrawal of heart failure medical therapies during hospitalization. JACC Heart Fail. 2019;7(1):1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.jchf.2018.06.011
^iv DeVore AD, Hammill BG, Sharma PP, et al. In-hospital worsening heart failure and associations with mortality, readmission, and healthcare utilization. J Am Heart Assoc. 2014;3(4):1-11. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.114.001088
^v Patel J. Heart failure population health considerations. Am J Manag Care. 2021;27(9 Suppl):S191-S195. doi: 10.37765/ajmc.2021.88673

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0d636e68-bd30-49e0-b5a0-092312ab88e7